Microwave generator

Abstract

A microwave generator ( 11 ) has a parallel connection of series connections of uncontrolled discharge spark gaps ( 13 ) and charge storage means ( 12 ) which are charged up by way of charging resistors ( 17 ) and an inductor ( 19 ) common to all parallel connections, from a high voltage generator ( 26 ), until the respective spark gaps ( 13 ) short-circuit by way of arcs and the storage means ( 12 ) are discharged again by way of the inductor ( 19 ). The oscillating short-circuit currents which thus occur in stochastic steep-edged manner and which are superimposed on each other in the inductor ( 19 ) are emitted by way of an antenna ( 21 ) connected in single-pole manner thereto in the form of a high-energy microwave spectrum which is wide-band in accordance with the arc switching speed, with a spectral key point which is determined by the inductor ( 19 ). Such an operative system which can be used as a non-lethal interference or jamming device in relation to communication connections and in relation to the function of electronic circuits can be embodied in the size of a manually portable case or also in the form of a payload for a submunition projectile, a rocket or a drone and can thus be used over a wide operative range.

1. A microwave generator ( 11 ) with a plurality of series circuits of charge storage means ( 12 ) and self-triggering discharge spark gap ( 13 ) connected in series with each other, said plurality of series circuits being connected in parallel with each other, with a connection of an antenna ( 21 ) to a common pole bus bar ( 15 ) of the charge storage means ( 12 ) and a connection of charging resistors ( 17 ) to connecting points ( 16 ) between the charge storage means ( 12 ) which are respectively associated therewith and the discharge spark gaps ( 13 ) thereof, and with a series inductor ( 19 ) being connected in the common discharge circuit of all charge storage means ( 12 ) between an end of the charge storage means ( 12 ) which is remote from the spark gap ( 13 ) and an end of the spark gap ( 13 ), which is remote from the charge storage means ( 12 ), wherein the series inductors ( 19 ) is connected between the end of the spark gap ( 13 ) which is remote from the charge storage means ( 12 ) and the antenna ( 21 ), and wherein the series inductor ( 19 ) is arranged for decoupling of the charge storage means ( 12 ) to the effect that, when one of the discharge spark gaps ( 13 ) is switched through first, it is not the case that all other discharge spark gaps ( 13 ) are also already triggered but the other discharge spark gaps ( 13 ) only by virtue of their individual response characteristic are respectively switched through, leading to uncorrelated initiation of discharge currents. 
   
   
     2. A microwave generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging resistors ( 17 ) are jointly connectable in single-pole mode to a high voltage generator ( 26 ). 
   
   
     3. A microwave generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the charge storage means ( 12 ) is conducted in single-pole mode to the common pole bus bar ( 15 ), the spark gaps ( 13 ) being connected in single-pole mode to a common ground bus bar ( 14 ) and the charging resistors ( 17 ) being connected in single-pole mode to a common charging bus bar ( 18 ). 
   
   
     4. A microwave generator according to  claim 3 , wherein the bus bars ( 14 ,  15 ,  18 ) are each of a disc-shaped configuration, and wherein, in colinear relationship with the charging resistors ( 17 ) thereof, the series connections which are of a colinear configuration consisting of charge storage means ( 12 ) and spark gaps ( 13 ) are grouped around the series inductor ( 19 ). 
   
   
     5. A microwave generator according to  claim 4 , wherein the antenna ( 21 ) is connected to the common pole bus bar ( 15 ) by way of a ducting means ( 28 ) in the disc-shaped charging bus bar ( 18 ) extending therethrough at the inductor ( 19 ). 
   
   
     6. A microwave generator according to  claim 4  or  5 , wherein the charging resistors ( 17 ) which are arranged colinearly with the charge storage means ( 12 ) and the spark gaps ( 13 ) thereof and which are further connected to the disc-shaped charging bus bar ( 18 ) are connected through holes ( 29 ) in the disc-shaped common pole bus bar ( 15 ) to the connecting points ( 16 ) of the charge storage means ( 12 ) associated therewith to the spark gaps ( 13 ).